Business · Economy · 2 hrs ago
Opinion argues Europe risks falling behind by relying on others’ work
A Le Temps opinion argues Europe is falling behind economically.
It cites UN trade figures saying Europe accounted for about a quarter of global growth in 2022, but is expected to account for one-tenth this year.
The piece says Europe has little AI computing power: it attributes to former European Central Bank head Mario Draghi estimates of less than 5% for the EU, compared with 75% for the United States.
The writer argues that Europe chose to prioritize services and political goals while allowing industry to move elsewhere.
The opinion says those choices now look costly because AI can replace services and requires plentiful, affordable energy.
It also criticizes Europe’s expensive energy transition, but the excerpt does not say what policy changes might follow.
A Le Temps opinion argues that Europe risks falling behind because it relied on services and outsourced industry while other economies focused on practical, evidence-based choices.
The column says Europe’s share of global growth has fallen from nearly a quarter in 2022 to one tenth this year.
It cites Mario Draghi as saying the European Union has less than 5% of the world’s computing power dedicated to artificial intelligence, compared with 75% for the United States.
The author argues that artificial intelligence replaces services and depends on abundant, available and cheap energy.
The column says Europe’s focus on services and its costly energy transition have become dead ends.
- Who
- An unnamed Le Temps opinion writer discusses Europe and the European Union.
- What
- The column argues that Europe risks falling behind by relying on others’ work and making mistaken economic priorities.
- When
- Published on November 10, 2026.
- Where
- Europe, including the European Union.
- Why
- The author says Europe prioritized services over industry and pursued a costly energy transition, while artificial intelligence needs cheap, abundant energy and replaces many services.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Europe accounted for nearly a quarter of global growth, according to the column.
Le Temps published the opinion column, which says Europe will account for one tenth of global growth this year.
- Publication date
- November 10, 2026
- Europe’s share of global growth in 2022
- Nearly one quarter
- Europe’s share of global growth this year
- One tenth
- EU share of global AI computing power
- Less than 5%
- US share of global AI computing power
- 75%
What people are saying
L’intelligence artificielle accélère le décrochage.
L’Europe a tenté de décider politiquement de l’avenir, en suivant ce qu’elle imaginait être moralement juste.
L’intelligence artificielle remplace avant tout des services, et repose sur une énergie abondante, disponible et bon marché.